The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently published a report on performance metrics during the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 for Amtrak’s intercity passenger train operations.
The Metrics and Standards Rule establishes minimum standards for measuring intercity passenger train operations’ performance and service quality in four categories: customer service, financial performance, on-time performance and train delays, and public benefits. It also establishes a minimum standard for Amtrak intercity passenger rail on-time performance.
The minimum standard is that at least 80 percent of a train’s customers must arrive on time for any two consecutive calendar quarters. On-time is defined as no later than 15 minutes after the scheduled arrival time.
Freight train interference is the largest single category of delays, totaling 22 percent of total delay minutes.
Ridership increased 7 percent to 5.5 million riders. This is the second quarter of increases, growing 48 percent during the fourth quarter.
“Customers deserve high quality, reliable passenger rail service without interference from freight trains that can cause substantial delay,” FRA Administrator Amit Bose s id. “This report provides a meaningful tool for everyone – including customers, communities, and other stakeholders – to review comprehensive data on passenger rail performance.”
Amtrak served 67,835 riders in areas not well-served by other modes of intercity transportation during the fiscal year 2021.